How to Remove Chewing Gum from Carpet

Removing chewing gum isn't a pleasant task. 

It’s a sticky mess to start with and dries into a hard, difficult-to-remove stain. When it comes to removing gum, you’ve got 3 options: 

1. Freeze it 
2. Dissolve it 
3. Cut it  

 Here's what you need to know. 

Best Methods to Get Chewing Gum Out of Carpet

Method 1 - Using Ice

Dealing with chewing gum stuck on your carpet can be a challenging task. However, there's a simple and effective method that many homeowners swear by – using ice. By employing this technique, you can harden the gum, making it easier to remove without causing damage to your carpet fibres. 

What you'll need 

• Ice cubes 
• Metal spoon or blunt butter knife 
• Plastic bag zip-lock sandwich bags work well 
• Clean white cloth 

• Electro 3 Spot & Stain Remover 

   

Instructions 

1. Place a few ice cubes in a zip-lock bag and place them on top of the chewing gum. This will harden the gum, making it easier to remove. Leave for approximately 5 minutes. 
2. Remove ice, and, using a metal spoon or blunt butter knife, scrape off the hardened gum. 
3. Sponge the area where the gum was with a clean white cloth and Electro 3. 
4. Blot with the cloth until there are no traces of the gum. 

RECOMMENDED READING

Be The MacGyver of Stain Removal

Method 2 - Using Dencorub or Eucalyptus oil

Some household items are excellent at dissolving chewing gum. Dencorub and other heat creams for muscles contain methyl salicylate, which is a solvent that is very effective at breaking down chewing gum and bubble gum. 

To use the dissolving method of chewing gum removal, you’ll need the following.

What you'll need 

• One of these solvents: Eucalyptus oil or Muscle/heat rub – (e.g., Dencorub). We prefer Dencorub gel as it leaves a minimal residue 
• Dishwashing liquid 
• Clean white cloth 
• Metal spoon or blunt butter knife

Instructions 

1. Wearing gloves, apply the selected oil product to a clean white cloth. 
2. Rub the gum area with the cloth and oil/dencorub, working into the carpet fibres to soften the gum and release it from the carpet. 
3. Use a spoon or blunt knife to scrape away the softened gum. 
4. Dispose of the gum from your knife or spoon each time you scrape, so you don’t re-affect the area. 
5. Once you have removed as much of the gum as possible, clean the affected area with dishwashing liquid and water. Clean thoroughly to remove the oil or Dencorub residue. 

Method 3 - Cut it

If you have a cut pile or shaggy pile carpet, you may find it’s best to cut out the chewing gum. This means you’ll be cutting away some of the carpet fibres, so it requires a steady hand to ensure you don’t make an unsightly mess. 

If none of this works, you may want to bring in the carpet cleaning experts. Contact us on 13 27 13 to book a carpet cleaning service.